Target Shooting - The British Association For Shooting And ...

Skip to content Target shooting

Everything you need to know about target shooting, from how to get started, right through to how to enter competitions.

What is target shooting?

Target shooting involves the use of the following:

• air rifles
• pistols
• muzzle-loading rifles and pistols
• rifles (both rimfire and centrefire) 

It also includes clay shooting and you can find more on that here.

Practical shotgun and practical rifle are also important branches of the target shooting disciplines.

All require concentration, skill, discipline and great control, while being relaxed and focused is key for hitting the target.

Where do I start?

Due to firearm laws, you cannot simply turn up and try target shooting, but there are ways you can enjoy it as a one-off day.

What do I need?

You don't have to get all the equipment to get started but we look at the options that are available to you.

What can I shoot?

Target shooting involves shooting various artificial targets you can even download your own.

Entering competitions

There are a wide range of different competitions you can enter as you grow your skills.

Range days

We offer BASC members the opportunity to book onto range days at Bisley.

BASC courses and events

BASC runs a range of courses and training days, held all over the UK. Find out more

The latest news from BASC

BASC rifle day brings together women shooters at Bisley

15 October 2025

BASC’s Women in Shooting rifle day at Bisley Sporting Rifle ranges in Surrey allowed participants to try a variety of rifles on a mix of targets.

BASC Women in Shooting: a summer of growth

13 October 2025

This summer has been a landmark season for BASC Women in Shooting, bringing together record-breaking events and promising an exciting future.

Being an airgun champion broke me – I needed to refocus

26 September 2025

Courtney Palmer-Jones, a BASC-sponsored rifle shooter, shares how she stepped back from competition to rebuild herself after a crisis of confidence.

• About us
• Join us
• Get involved
  • Airgunning
  • Clay shooting
  • Deer management
  • Conservation in action
  • Firearms
  • Gamekeeping
  • Game shooting
  • Gundogs
  • Quarry species and shooting seasons
  • Pest and predator control
  • Target shooting
  • Wildfowling
  • Women in Shooting
  • Support us
    • Leave a legacy
    • Donate to the BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Get support
    • BASC Legacy Scholarship Programme
    • BASC Legacy Sponsorship
    • BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Develop your skills
    • Coaching
    • Training courses
    • Events
• Our work
  • News and media
    • Latest news
    • Features
    • Shooting and Conservation magazine
    • Podcast
  • Education
    • BASC to School
    • Let’s Learn Moor
    • Wild food
  • Uplands
  • Policies and campaigns
    • Lobby your mp
    • Our positions
    • Self-regulation
    • The Shooter’s Charter
  • Science and research
    • Conservation in action
    • What shooting delivers for nature recovery
  • BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Avian Influenza
  • Firearms licensing
  • General licences
• In your area
• Advice hub

• Support us
• News
• BASC shop
• Events
• Member offers

Search for:Search Button

• About us
• Join us
• Get involved
  • Airgunning
  • Clay shooting
  • Deer management
  • Conservation in action
  • Firearms
  • Gamekeeping
  • Game shooting
  • Gundogs
  • Quarry species and shooting seasons
  • Pest and predator control
  • Target shooting
  • Wildfowling
  • Women in Shooting
  • Support us
    • Leave a legacy
    • Donate to the BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Get support
    • BASC Legacy Scholarship Programme
    • BASC Legacy Sponsorship
    • BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Develop your skills
    • Coaching
    • Training courses
    • Events
• Our work
  • News and media
    • Latest news
    • Features
    • Shooting and Conservation magazine
    • Podcast
  • Education
    • BASC to School
    • Let’s Learn Moor
    • Wild food
  • Uplands
  • Policies and campaigns
    • Lobby your mp
    • Our positions
    • Self-regulation
    • The Shooter’s Charter
  • Science and research
    • Conservation in action
    • What shooting delivers for nature recovery
  • BASC Wildlife Fund
  • Avian Influenza
  • Firearms licensing
  • General licences
• In your area
• Advice hub

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Accept Close GDPR Cookie Settings

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies
• Cookie Policy

Powered by GDPR Cookie Compliance Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Enable or Disable Cookies Enabled Disabled 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Enable or Disable Cookies Enabled Disabled Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy

Enable All Save Settings